Europe

BERLIN (Reuters) - German police unleashed water cannon on Wednesday in an effort to scatter thousands of protesters angry over plans to empower Chancellor Angela Merkel’s government to enforce restrictions to curb the spread of the coronavirus.

Protesters near Berlin’s landmark Brandenburg Gate threw bottles at police and set off smoke bombs, witnesses reported. Riot police detained some protesters while firing volleys of water and urging crowds by loudspeaker to disperse.

LONDON (Reuters) - Oil prices firmed on Wednesday on hopes OPEC and its allies will delay a planned increase in oil output and after Pfizer said its COVID-19 vaccine was more effective than previously reported.

Brent crude rose 82 cents, or 1.9%, to $44.57 a barrel by 1211 GMT, while U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude gained 76 cents, or 1.8%, to $42.92.

Both contracts jumped by about $1 after Pfizer Inc said on Wednesday final results from the late-stage trial of its vaccine showed it was 95% effective. Last week, it had put the efficacy at more than 90%.

BERLIN (Reuters) - A premature troop withdrawal from Afghanistan may complicate peace talks between the government in Kabul and the Taliban, German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas said on Wednesday, commenting on U.S. plans to pull out 2,000 troops from the country.

“It remains very important for us not to jeopardize what we have reached so far by taking any rash actions,” Maas said.

17 Nov 2020; MEMO: The former leader of Britain's Labour Party Jeremy Corbyn will be readmitted after he was suspended from the party for downplaying a report that detailed serious failings in its handling of anti-Semitism complaints, The Guardian reported.

LONDON, Nov. 17 (Xinhua) -- The coronavirus-related deaths in Britain rose by 598 to 52,745, marking the highest daily number of fatalities since May 6, according to official figures released Tuesday.

Another 20,051 people in Britain have tested positive for COVID-19, bringing the total number of coronavirus cases in the country to 1,410,732, the data showed.

England is currently under a month-long national lockdown until Oct. 2, the second of its kind since the coronavirus outbreak began in Britain, in a bid to quell the resurgence of coronavirus.

MOSCOW, Nov. 17 (Xinhua) -- Russian President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday praised the BRICS countries -- Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa -- for their close coordination on international and regional issues.

The BRICS are strengthening cooperation to combat terrorism, illegal drugs and corruption, Putin said during the 12th BRICS summit hosted by Russia via video conference.

LONDON, Nov 17 (APP): The United Kingdom (UK) Councilor and former Mayor of Rugby Dr James Shera (MBE) Tuesday said that Indian real face had been exposed as a sponsor of terrorism and terrorfinancing in Pakistan to destabilise it.

“India has been using the sovereign soil of Afghanistan for perpetrating terrorism against the sovereign state of Pakistan, taking a huge toll on human lives”, Dr.James Shera said in a statement issued here.

MOSCOW, November 17. /TASS/: Russia is critical of US attempts to spread its jurisdiction to other countries, presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov said about the US Senate’s adoption of the Rodchenkov Act.

"Certainly, we took note of that," Peskov said. "As you may know, in the context of this document and in general we are extremely critical of any attempts by the United States to extend its jurisdiction to other countries."

NOVO-OGARYOVO, November 17. /TASS/: Russian President Vladimir Putin has drawn the attention of the participants in the BRICS summit to the persisting risks of an aggravation of the situation in the Middle East and North Africa. In particular, he focused on the situation in Iraq in his speech at the summit on Tuesday.

"The risks of an aggravation of the situation in Iraq, Lebanon, Afghanistan and the Persian Gulf region persist," Putin said.

PLESETSK /Arkhangelsk Region/, November 17. /TASS/: Russian Defense Minister Army General Sergei Shoigu checked preparations for the launch of a Soyuz-2 carrier rocket with a cluster of satellites scheduled for November 24, the Defense Ministry reported on Tuesday.